David Gibson vows to fight on despite ethics stand down

UPDATE: 1.48pm: EMBATTLED Member for Gympie David Gibson has resigned his position as chairman of the ethics committee but vowed to fight those who would seek to bring him down as the State Member for Gympie.

"I intend to continue to serve my constituents, the (LNP) party and the people of Queensland… " Mr Gibson said.

The circulation of documents revealing he was he was placed on good behaviour by an ACT Magistrates Court in 1999 for stealing $7000 from the Australian Army have brought to a head what Mr Gibson has described as two years of political blackmail, ongoing intimidation, mud raking and "dirt files".

The thefts, though 15 years old, had been Gympie's "worst kept secret" for the past two years, he said.

He said a failed development application for Rainbow Shores, near Rainbow Beach, had triggered businessman Scott Elms' vendetta.

Mr Gibson would not be drawn on whether he believed he would survive pre-selection ahead of the next State election, or what mitigating circumstances had led to the charges of 1999.

UPDATE 1.35pm: Gympie MP David Gibson has stood down from State Parliament's Select Ethics Committee over claims he stole thousands of dollars while in the army.

The move came after former LNP member-turned independent candidate Scott Elms released court documents that show Mr Gibson faced the ACT Magistrates Court in 1999 and was allegedly found guilty of theft for stealing $7,000.

Mr Gibson was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay a $1,000 surety, but no conviction was recorded.

The Queensland MP earlier denied he was unfit to head the Ethics Committee.

But news outlets reported a short time ago that Mr Gibson had announced he would stand down from the position.

The Gympie MP was holding a press conference at his office.

Mr Gibson had earlier told ABC Radio the charges - dating back to when he was a 31-year-old officer in the army in 1999 - had given him the life experience needed to do his job better.

"I wish I could go back and change the past but I can't, but what I can do is learn from the past," Mr Gibson said.

"It has made a better person because of the lesson I have taken from it.''

Independent Nambour-based MP Peter Wellington called for Mr Gibson to step down as head of the parliamentary committee.

"The matters that I've now been perusing really raise questions in my mind about the fitness of Mr Gibson to not just continue to be a member of our State Parliament, but more importantly, about his fitness to chair this select parliamentary committee - a parliamentary committee chosen to investigate serious matters," he said.